The Every Tube Map Line For Just One Stop Walk

Lindsey apologises for being late and musters the band of walkers - photo McTumshie

Lindsey apologises for being late and musters the band of walkers - photo McTumshieAnd we're off.... the first stop by McTumshieGetting into the swing of things at Liverpool Street by McTumshieMarching to Aldgate East by McTumshieChanging to London Overground at Whitechapel with Ben's dubious orange cocktail by McTumshieShadwell by Zefrog - the mouthwash in the cocktail representing DLR didn't go down so wellMixing up a horrible concoction at Bank by McTumshieEmbankment flying the Tube 150 flag by hedgieccWestminster by McTumshieGroup shot at sunny Green Park by McTumshieLindsey being "tempted" by a Victoria Line cocktailAnia finds a friend in Mayfair - photo by McTumshie

On Easter Monday, a few people gathered near Moorgate Station at 10am and wondered if they were the victim of a cruel April Fool's prank. Over 100 people had RSVPed on Facebook for the Every Tube Map Line for Just One Stop Walk but only a handful showed up at the appointed time, and Team Londonist were nowhere to be seen.

But that's because it was a bank holiday and they were stuck on a slow bus, natch. The walk set off just ten minutes late, with a threat of snow in the air and amazement that yet again, our brilliant readers are game for any kind of random London amble we care to come up with.

The aim was to walk the route of the solution to the puzzle posed on Londonist a few weeks before. What soon became apparent was how when you apply an arbitrary route to the capital and stick to it, you're going to get a walk of wonderful contrasts. Here's how it shaped up:

First stop, Moorgate (Metropolitan) and through to Liverpool Street (change to Hammersmith) we tromped from the sleeping City out to Aldgate East (District), past colourful market stalls and over to one of the most unassuming stations on the network, Whitechapel (change to the Overground). Crossing over, down the side of the bright blue Royal London Hospital we traversed Watney Hopping Market and hit Shadwell (for DLR). Cable Street (did anyone take a picture of the mural?) took us back to the heart of the Square Mile and Bank (for the surprisingly open Waterloo and City line). We took Southwark Bridge across the Thames to Bankside and the jolly old Southbank and lunch after Waterloo (Bakerloo) at the Royal Festival Hall's Real Food Market.

Setting off again from Nelson Mandela's head we took the Jubilee bridge to Embankment (Circle), through Whitehall Gardens into the heart of political power, Westminster (Jubilee). From tourist central we took a turn into St James's Park, and an ideal pelican photo opportunity, with added heron. The sun was coming out, and by the time we were walking past the daffs in Green Park (change for Victoria line), the group felt really happy and posed for a group shot (thanks, McTumshie!). From bucolic splendour we dipped into posh Mayfair and up to the shopping madness at Oxford Circus (Central line). A Soho shortcut avoided the crowds and zipped us up to Tottenham Court Road (change to Northern) past the massive Crossrail construction site. Nodding to Centrepoint we cut through St Giles, skirting the lovely Phoenix Garden and out onto busy Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square (Piccadilly). From whence, it was a short trot past that bloke in high vis offering all and sundry directions, to the end of our line, Covent Garden, and the pub.

As promised (threatened?) Ben Norum turned up with a drinks cabinet on his back and attempted to mix appropriate "cocktails" at each stop. His close attention to the colours of the tube lines and masterly effort to mix lines at the tube stations where you could change to them resulted in some truly original concoctions. Advocaat, tomato soup, mouthwash, a Cypriot liqueur all played their part backed up by good old gin and vodka. Tottenham Court Road's bloody Mary (Central) mixed with Marmite (Northern) was surprisingly nice. Bank's mixture of all the lines should be a surefire recipe for being sick on the tube.

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I did take a pic of the mural, though not a very nice one. it's in the photogroup :)

this is lemonade

Sounds really cool! Love working around the Tube and walking around London randomly :) Going to pin this and see if I can try it out some time when this pesky snow decides to quit these Isles :P Thanks for sharing this, sounds like it was a great day!

Ben Norum

Love it. Have been drinking tube cocktails all week.

Marinel

Ben your hair looks like it needs a passport/Oyster card of its own. We need to do drinks soon (although maybe not tube cocktails...)

Kieran Saikat Das Gupta

It was an Excellent Event However I would Like to Point out My Name is Spelt Wrongly. I always use the rule I before E except after C. ThanksHope You Run Another Walk Soon Possibly Augst bank Holiday